What is Valtrex used for?

Valtrex is an antiviral medicine that is active in fighting the herpes virus. Your doctor may prescribe Valtrex for the following conditions:

• Herpetic inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.

• In the first manifestations and recurrences of genital herpes in immunocompromised patients.

• For the treatment and prevention of relapses of ocular herpes in immunocompromised adults.

• Treatment of labial herpes (labial fever)

• Valtrex is prescribed as prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infection after organ's transplantation surgery

Valtrex speeds up the regeneration of affected skin areas, reduces pain, relieves itching and burning. It is also used to prevent relapses and reduce the risk of infection in persons in contact with the patient.

How long does Valtrex stay in your system?

Valtrex medication contains the active ingredient Valacyclovir Hydrochloride. It is active in the body for a short period of time. Most of the medicine will be eliminated within 24 hours.

What does Valtrex treat?

Valtrex cannot completely cure the disease, the drug helps with the unpleasant symptoms that have resulted from the disease. It eliminates small blisters, itching, burning, and redness. Valtrex 500 mg also activates the regeneration processes.

How to take Valtrex?

The treatment regimen for herpes infection, the doctor prescribes depending on the symptoms, the severity of the course, immune status, and chronic diseases.

An example of a standard treatment regimen:

Primary episode	500 mg 2 times a day for 5-10 days
Relapse	500 mg 2 times a day 3-5 days
Suppressor therapy	500 mg once in the morning, 6-12 months

Take Valacyclovir orally, regardless of meals, as directed by your doctor. If you have frequent herpes recurrences (more than 5 times a year), your doctor may prescribe suppressive therapy. It means prolonged use of antiviral medications to immediately block the virus from multiplying as soon as it leaves the nerve ganglion. Suppressive therapy is aimed at reducing the number of relapses. In suppressive therapy, the antiviral medication is taken in the appropriate dosage for 6-12 months.

What are the side effects of Valtrex?

During treatment with Valtrex, various adverse reactions may occur, such as

• Allergies;
• Headache;
• Blood disorders: leukopenia, thrombocytopenia;
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting;
• Shortness of breath;
• Abdominal pain;
• Weight gain;
• Irritability;
• Fatigue;
• Sleep disturbance;
• Decreased concentration;
• Loss of appetite;
• Skin rashes.

This is not a complete list of side effects. Before you buy Valtrex online, talk to your doctor about any unpleasant symptoms you have experienced during treatment.

Valtrex and alcohol

It is not advisable to combine Valtrex 500 tablets for herpes with alcohol because it has a negative effect on the liver and suppresses the nerve cells and respiratory center. This increases the toxicity of the antiviral drug and may lead to encephalopathy, decreased intelligence, headache, gait disturbance, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Allergic reactions may increase, so you should avoid alcohol while taking Valtrex.

Valtrex vs. Acyclovir

Valacyclovir differs from Acyclovir in that the amino acid Valine has been added to it. And although Valacyclovir is converted to Valine and the same Acyclovir in the body, its bioavailability is significantly higher: 54%.

Name	Valtrex	Acyclovir
Side effects	Headache, nausea,  weight gain, sore throat, insomnia.	Nausea, abdominal pain, anemia, decreased BP, allergic manifestations: itching, rash, urticaria, angioedema.
Elimination      half-life	14 hours	3 hours
Form	500 mg tablets	200, 400 mg tablets
Composition	Valacyclovir (L-valine ester of Acyclovir)	Acyclovir
Dosing duration	7 days	5-10 days

Due to the high dosage, Valtrex is convenient to take (only 2 times a day), so the patient will not miss an appointment. This makes the drug more effective.

Does Valtrex cause weight gain?

Side effects include weight gain, but this is not common. Drink plenty of fluids while taking medicine to reduce side effects.

Valtrex: overdose

Symptoms of overdose include acute renal failure, confusion, and hallucinations. The patient may vomit, depression of consciousness, and a coma may occur. For treatment, the patient is sent to the hospital, hemodialysis sessions are carried out. Beforehand, it is possible to flush the stomach and give the patient 10-20 tablets of activated charcoal.

Valtrex: contraindications

Valtrex medicine is used with caution if there is renal insufficiency or if the patient is clinically ill with HIV infection.

Contraindications for taking it are children under 12 years of age; severe cirrhosis of the liver; hypersensitivity to components; herpes zoster, as well as ophthalmic herpetic rashes (if the patient is under 18 years of age).

Driving or operating machinery while taking Valtrex is not recommended because the drug reduces reaction speed and concentration.